Do you feel like you have lost your ability to dream, that the reality of life has crowded out the dreams you once had? Now that you are an adult, it is time to be realistic, right?
We do need to be realistic. The reality is that if I do not pursue my dreams now, when will I do it? I am not too old or too uneducated to pursue any dream God has placed in my heart. If God has placed a desire there, He will lead me on the paths I need to follow to achieve whatever it is I dream about.
Grandma Moses started painting when she was in her 70’s. Not only has her work inspired others, but her story as well.
There is more in us than we think there is. While we are still on earth we have the time to pursue whatever dreams we have. It is not too late.
The time is now.
Our oldest daughter has planned for years to study abroad when she is in college. People have asked my husband and me what we think about her going. Are we nervous? Will we tell her no? Yes and no. We are a bit nervous. This is a big step and she will be away from home in an unfamiliar area of the world. But, we will not tell her no. We trust her and have faith in her. It is her life to live and we want for her and for all our other children to pursue their dreams now. We don’t want for them to say years down the road, ‘I wish I would have . . .”
The same goes for us. What dreams we have buried in the past or new ones that we have only recently dreamed can come to be a reality in our lives. The time to take action is now.
Planning and achieving big dreams (goals)
To dream big may seem just like it sounds-a dream, something that is nice to think about or we wish would happen, but not something we think of as realistic, or something we think we can really pursue.
With planning and action, our dreams can become a reality.
Don’t settle.
I think this first step is important. Don’t settle for small goals. Don’t dream small. Imagine that anything is possible because with God anything is possible.
What have you always dreamed about? Going on a trip to Europe? Going on a mission trip? Writing a book? Having more quality time as a family? Being the parent you have always imagined you would be? Moving into your dream home? Starting your own business? Starting a service group to link your church and your community?
Write a list.
What BIG dreams do you have that you think may never become a reality? As time has gone on they have passed from dreams to wishes in your mind as you have gotten older. They are your “One day I would love to . . . ” dreams. Your “I’d pinch myself if I could do this” dreams. your ‘I wish I could . . .” dreams that you don’t think are possible.
Write them down. Write dreams across the top of the paper.
Guess what? These dreams can become a reality. Do you want them enough to work for them, to make a plan and complete one step each day to get you closer to them?
Now cross out dreams and write goals.
Make a plan.
Pick one of these amazing goals that you want to pursue and make a reality in your life.
The next step is to make a plan. You may have heard the term reverse engineer. This means to look at what the finished product will be like and figure out how to get there from where you currently are.
Let’s say you want to go to Rome. What do you need to know to make it happen? Make a list. Your list may include: get or update your passport, find out about travel visas to Italy, look up airfare rates, research the weather for when you want to go, ask people you know who have been there about their trip, look up information on websites, or visit a travel agency for more help and ideas.
Write down all the steps you can think of that you need to do to get you to your goal. More steps will come up as you begin working on the ones you already have. Add those to your list.
Follow through.
Now, when you decide to plant a seed, you can’t just leave it in the ground and never touch it again if you want it to flourish. As it grows you need to protect it, nurture it, feed it, water it, and prune it. You need to shower love and attention on it. This all takes time. Without this care, your little seed will never become the amazing plant that you know it has the potential to grow into.
When you set a goal and start to work towards it, do you work on it for a bit of time and then stop? Do you wonder and imagine what could be if you were to persevere? Or, do you keep working a bit of a time on it, nurturing and taking care of those dreams as you work to make them a reality?
You have your list now of what you need to do to reach your goal. Keep adding to, updating, and crossing off your list what you have achieved already. This is an exciting journey. It will take time and effort, yet seeing your progress as you accomplish little steps toward your goal is very encouraging and motivating.
Dream big.
Don’t limit yourself and don’t settle. I know I said this before, but it is so important. When Jeremiah was told by God that God wanted him to be a prophet to the Jewish people, Jeremiah said he was too young, that he did not know what to say, and wanted God to choose someone else. God told Jeremiah that He had chosen Jeremiah since he was in his mother’s womb. He would give Jeremiah the words to say. Jeremiah finally agreed. It was not an easy journey, but he followed God and was obedient to Him.
Sometimes the dreams we have are in our hearts because God placed them there. It may be a special work for us to do or a mission He has in store for us that He knows we are uniquely suited to do.
I don’t want you to be scared off by any big dreams-to think they are not worthwhile or that they are not possible. With God, all things are possible. If it is a dream He planted in your heart, He will help you to achieve it. He will be with you every step of the way. He will be faithful to complete in you what He has started. We do not need to fear or be discouraged.
Pray.
What dreams has God placed in your heart? What have you always yearned for? Pray. Talk with God and He will reveal to you what those dreams are. He will be with you.
What about you?
What are your dreams? May your heart and ears be open as God reveals them to you and works side by side with you to make them a reality.
Resources
Here are some more posts that may be helpful to accompany this one:
Leave a Reply